By Jim Bleyer Four important groups that traditionally vote Democratic have deserted Janet Cruz in her quest to unseat State Sen.Dana Young in Greater Tampa’s SD18. These include the African American community, progressives, educators, and environmentalists. Cruz, a term-limited State Representative has somehow alienated them all. The Hillsborough Democratic …

By Jim Bleyer State Rep. Janet Cruz is under fire for the same political deception that forced the resignation of her Florida House colleague Daisy Baez one year ago. A week after resigning from office, fellow Democrat Baez pleaded guilty to …

By Jim Bleyer Could House Minority Leader Janet Cruz’ insults to Afro-American voters cut any deeper than bragging about endorsements from Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, an unapologetic racial profiler, and the Tampa Bay Times who took many not-so-subtle racist jabs at Andrew Gillum during the Democratic primary? Cruz’ associations …

By Jim Bleyer Inconsistencies dogging the Janet Cruz campaign for Florida Senate not only include key political issues but more fundamental representations such as her name and address. Cruz, a term-limited state representative, is challenging State Sen. Dana Young in …

By Jim Bleyer Tampa voters have learned that the current midterm elections have irrefutably accentuated an important axiom: Always question the veracity of State Rep. Janet Cruz. That even applies to her name. The desperate Cruz, a Democrat polling behind State Sen. Dana Young in FL-18, has been …

By Jim Bleyer When State Rep. Janet Cruz jumped into a Florida Senate race against incumbent Republican Dana Young, she told Tampa voters she was motivated to run because of the February school shootings in Parkland. The term-limited House minority leader had previously filed to run for a seat …

By Jim Bleyer Susan Valdes, the early favorite in the Democratic primary race for Florida House District 62, has run a gaffe-riddled campaign but she won’t be branded the biggest loser if opponent Michael Alvarez pulls an upset next Tuesday. That honor will belong to outgoing State Rep. Janet …

By Jim Bleyer With the 2018 general election just three months away, incumbent State Sen. Dana Young has taken to the hustings, appearing at panel discussions, campaign events, and fundraisers. Voters in Senate District 18 have been bombarded with Young campaign literature outlining her accomplishments in the Florida Legislature. …

By Jim Bleyer Tampa’s leadership flunked its latest test Saturday at the University of South Florida. A March for Our Lives town hall discussion drew only a handful of candidates for Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa. Incumbent officeholders scored a zero. Likewise Republicans. The USF event is …